Is “lose weight” on your list of New Year’s resolutions? If so — or if you’re just trying to maintain your current weight — here are a few ways to cut calories without cutting out cocktails.

Skip the dessert in a glass

We all know that sweet drinks are higher in calories.

However, you might be surprised to find out just how many more calories they contain. A pina colada has nearly 400 calories, and a chocolate martini has nearly 500 calories. That’s four and five times the calories of a gin and tonic.

And, don’t even get me started on Long Island Iced Tea, which can have up to 700 calories in an 8-ounce serving.

Pay attention to the mixers and alcohol proof

Juices and sodas add flavor and calories to your drink. Even tonic water has 10 calories per serving. Try mixing with club soda, diet soda or Fresca. Also, the higher the alcohol proof, the higher the calorie count. Infused liquors can add flavor without adding calories, so you can cut down or eliminate the amount of juice or soda in your drink.
A jigger (1.5 oz.) of 80-proof vodka, gin or rum has 97 calories. The same quantity of 100-proof alcohol has 123 calories.
This helpful guide will tell you the calorie count for your favorite liqueurs, another source of hidden calories.

Consider low-calorie substitutions

Glamour magazine has some good recommendations for how to swap lower-calorie cocktails for higher-calorie favorites. For example, order a Mudslide instead of a White Russian and save 154 calories. Go for a Mojito instead of a Margarita and save 206 calories.

Baja Bob makes no-sugar mixers and Torini makes no-calorie flavored syrups — good ways to make your favorites at home in a lower-calorie way.

Recipes for cocktails under 170 calories:

Pomegranate Martini
Sour Apple Martini
Midori Lemonade, Midori Fizz, Zen Cooler and Zen Iced Tea
Diet Cuba Libre
Bloody Mary
Blueberry Lime Margarita
Low-Calorie Spring Cocktails

Photo credit: the prodigal untitled13

Spice Night comes by way of Bermuda and is a melange of “scented” apple, carrot, lemon and ginger juices mixed with Mount Gay Rum and a bit of maple syrup.

Spice Night

1 1/2 oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Gold Rum
1 1/2 oz. Scented Apple Juice*
1/2 oz. Fresh Carrot Juice
1/4 oz. fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 oz. Maple Syrup
One Teaspoon Fresh Ginger Juice**

Garnish: 3 Whole Allspice Pods
Glass: Cocktail/Martini glass

Place all ingredients in cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously.
Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with whole allspice pods (they
will float atop cocktail)

* Scented Apple Juice
Overnight, combine 3-4 whole allspice pods with one cracked cinnamon stick
to 2 cups of apple juice. Refrigerate.

**Ginger Juice
If fresh ginger juice is not available it can be ordered at www.gingerpeople.com

more Holiday Drinks
recipe & photo courtesy Mount Gay Rum

This is my kind of Partridge!

Partridge in a Pear Tree

1 ½ oz. Oronoco Rum
¼ oz. Pear Liqueur
½ oz. Pomegranate Juice
1 tbsp champagne

Mix ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with champagne.

more Holiday Drinks
recipe & photo courtesy - Oronoco Rum

The holidays are time for gatherings and warmth … and a little booze. This spiced punch can be served hot or cold. It’s a tasty way to welcome guests and stay warm.

Spiced Tea Holiday Punch

3 cups water
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbs. vanilla extract
10 whole cloves
10 cardamom seeds
2 tbs. ginger
2 tea bags (black tea)
1 bottle red wine
1/4 cup dark rum
Boil water, honey, sugar, spices and vanilla in a large saucepan, stirring frequently until honey and sugar are dissolved.

Remove from heat and add tea bag, steeping for five minutes. Strain it into a bowl and add wine and rum.

Can be served hot or cold. If serving it hot, simmer mixture until warm again. If serving cold, chill mixture in refrigerator then serve over ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

more Holiday Drinks & Punches

Looking around for Thanksgiving dessert inspiration, I found some mouth-watering pumpkin desserts that incorporate a wee bit of booze.

Pumpkin pie with brandy

Bourbon pumpkin cheesecake

Pumpkin cake with whiskey whipped cream

Pumpkin rum cake with brown sugar icing

Pumpkin mousse parfaits (pictured)

Photo credit: azcentral.com

Created by Brian Miller of New York hotspot Death & Co this creepy cocktail is made with Flor de Caña rum, a new premium rum from Nicaragua which has recently become available in the U.S.

Sleepy Hollow Fizz

1 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7yr old rum
1/2 oz El Dorado 151 proof demerara rum
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz maple syrup
2 barspoon pumpkin puree
1 egg yolk
Top club soda

Dry shake, shake with 3 ice cubes and strain into a tall glass. no garnish

PUMPKIN PUREE
Take one 15 oz can of Libby’s 100% pure pumpkin, add 1 tsp of ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp of ground cloves and 15 oz of simple syrup and blend it all together in a blender or Cuisinart. Store in the fridge.

recipe courtesy Flor de Cana

Mimicking the look of classic candy corn, this dessert cocktail would be a sweet ending to an evening of Halloween marauding.

Trick-or-Tini

1 part coconut cream
1 part tangerine flavored mixer (suggested, Stirrings Tangerini)
1 part banana liqueur
Splash of white rum

Chill ingredients in fridge or freezer. Once cooled, pour the first three ingredients, in the order listed above, slowly over the back side of a spoon into a martini glass. Top with a splash of white rum.

more Halloween Cocktails and Punches
past Drink of the Week Cocktails

Photo credit:
YumSugar